Russia's lower house of parliament has tentatively approved a Kremlin bill that eases tight regulation of human rights groups and other non-governmental organizations, according to AP. The legislation would decrease the number of documents NGOs would be required to provide and ease the registration process, while limiting government audits to once every three years. The Kremlin-controlled State Duma passed the bill Friday in the first of three required readings by a 391-57 vote. The bill also needs to be approved by the upper house and signed by President Dmitry Medvedev. The bill would amend a restrictive law passed three years ago under Medvedev's predecessor Vladimir Putin, who said tight regulations were necessary to make sure that NGOs were not controlled from abroad.
